ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Defence
MoD Enhances Financial Powers of DRDO
To enhance efficiency and effectiveness of Defence Research establishments, Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman has decided to delegate greater financial powers to various authorities. This wind of change in Defence Research and Development  is intended to neutralise the ill-effects of over-centralisation and facilitate quicker decision making. This is in line with similar financial delegations made to Armed Forces in the last one year. The delegated powers now stands enhanced as under:-
- Powers of Secretary, Defence R&D to sanction projects and for procurements enhanced from Rs. 75 Crore to Rs. 150 Crore and for the Directors General  enhanced from Rs. 50 Crore to Rs. 75 Crore
- Enhancement of powers for Proprietary Article Certificate  cases
- From Rs. 50 Crore. to Rs. 150 Crore for Secretary Defence ;
- From Rs. 25 Crore to Rs. 75 Crore to DGs;
- From Rs. 2 Crore to Rs. 5 Crore for Lab Directors.
- Enhancement of powers for Single Tender cases
- From Rs. 50 Crore to Rs. 75 Crore for Secretary Defence ;
- From Rs. 25 Crore to Rs. 37.5 Crore for DGs;
- From Rs. 1 Crore to Rs. 2.5 Crore for Lab Directors.
- All Competent Financial Authority empowered to reallocate funds, reduce and enhance costs of projects/programmes within their delegated powers.
- The powers of Director General  have been enhanced from Rs. 3 Crore to Rs. 5 Crore for sanctioning Research projects to Universities, Technological Institutions and to Indigenous Defence Industry under the Technology Development Fund Scheme of DRDO.
- Powers of post-contract management and maintenance support in respect of contracts for which CFA is the Ministry of Defence, have been delegated to Directors General of DRDO in line with the delegations already made to the Armed Forces.
- Delegations for Hygiene and Maintenance Contracts, training expenses, miscellaneous and contingent activities have been rationalized and enhanced to ensure that sanctions are given at the Director and DG levels with minimal flow of files to DRDO HQ.
Consequently, the powers for sanctioning of projects and for procurements that were hitherto with the Secretary Defence R&D have now been delegated to the Directors General of DRDO and the delegation to the Secretary, Defence R&D has been doubled, A number of powers relating to day-to-day functioning that were centralized at DRDO HQ have now been delegated to the DGs and Lab Directors. The delegations also bring flexibility in Universities and by indigenous defence industry. All the delegations that had been made in respect of the services have also been extended to the DRDO.
The Director Generals of DRDO has expressed their satisfaction at this major initiative by the Government and have opined that these forward-looking measures would ensure that majority of the decisions relating to implementation and functioning would largely be taken within the technology clusters whereas policy issues would primarily come to the Government. Given the geographically dispersed Clusters and Laboratories, this will be greatly reduce file movements to and from the DRDO HQ at New Delhi and facilitate faster decision-making.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
MSP Operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season  2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes.
Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra with purchase of over 318.00 LMTs of paddy up to 30.11.2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of 268.15 LMT showing an increase of 18.58 % over last year. Out of the total purchase of 318.00 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 202.77 LMT which is 63.76 % of total procurement.
About 29.70 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs. 60038.68 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 45.24 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme . Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra  for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.
Upto 30.11.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 104546.68 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs. 563.43 Crores benefitting 60107 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Similarly, 5089 MT of copra  having MSP value of Rs.52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu upto 30.11.2020 as against the last year corresponding purchase of 293.34 MT of copra. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.
Procurement operations of seed cotton  under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 30.11.2020 a quantity of 2909242 cotton bales valuing Rs.8515.53 Crore has been procured benefitting 581449 farmers.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Status of FCRA Accounts and Its Funds
There are approximately over 22400 associations/NGOs which are registered under the FCRA, 2010. Each such association/NGO has opened atleast one FCRA account in bank. It can also open one or more utilization accounts in any bank of its choice. Statewise details in this regard are available on the FCRA Portal www.fcraonline.nic.in
An NGO is registered under the FCRA, 2010 or granted Prior Permission by Central Government for receiving and utilising foreign funds/contribution. It can receive and utilize such contribution for a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme as provided under Section 11 of the Act. Details of foreign contribution received and utilized are available in the Annual Returns of the association/NGO which have been uploaded on the FCRA Portal www.fcraonline.nic.in
When foreign contribution is found to be misused, The FCRA, 2010 provides for cancellation of certificate of the NGO/association under Section 14. Cases of serious nature where any offence punishable under the Act is prima-facie made out, the matter may also be referred to an investigating agency under Section 43 of The FCRA, 2010.
Details of action taken by Central Government where funds have been found to be misused during the last three years are given below:-
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Year
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Cancellation of FCRA registration for misuse of FC
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Case referred to CBI/ State Crime Branch for misutilization of FC
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2017
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02
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|
02
|
|
2018
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|
Nil
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Nil
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|
2019
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|
Nil
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|
01
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Education
Initiatives for affordability of education
The Government continuously endeavours to make education more affordable and prevent commercialization of it. In this regard, All India Council for Technical Education  has accepted the recommendations of National Fee Committee for the maximum Tuition and Development Fee for the Programme and requested all the State/ UT Governments to adhere to these recommendations. These recommendations have also been included in the Approval Process Handbook of AICTE.
To provide financial assistance to the students, Ministry of Education is implementing schemes namely Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for Colleges and University Students , Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir  and Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme . The AICTE is also implementing a number of scholarship schemes namely Post Graduate  Scholarship, Saksham Scholarship Scheme for specially abled students, Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students, AICTE Doctoral Fellowship , etc. In addition to it, University Grants Commission  also provides scholarship under different schemes namely “IshanUday” Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region, P.G. Scholarship for University Rank Holders, Junior Research Fellowship in Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, BSR Fellowship and Emeritus Fellowship etc.
The information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Dr.SubhasSarkar in a written reply in the RajyaSabha today.
Special Service and Features
Pseudoephedrine worth Rs. 40 lakhs seized by Chennai Air Customs. One arrested
Based on intelligence, Chennai Air Customs intercepted two courier parcels suspected to contain narcotics substances which were destined to Australia at Courier Terminal.
On opening the first parcel, 8 Lumbo Sacral belts were found which appeared to be unusually heavy. On cutting the belts, three plastic pouches containing white crystalline powder were found concealed inside each belt. 2 kg of white crystalline powder was recovered from 24 plastic pouches. The second parcel was found to contain 2 trophies which appeared to be unusually heavy. On opening the wooden base of trophies, a plastic pouch containing 1 kg of white crystalline powder was found concealed inside each trophies. 2 kg of white crystalline powder was recovered from 2 trophies. Total 4 kg Pseudoephedrine valued at Rs. 40 lakhs was recovered and seized under the NDPS Act, 1985.
The white crystalline powder tested positive for Pseudoephedrine, a controlled substance covered under NDPS Act, 1985. Pseudoephedrine is a sought-after chemical precursor in the illicit manufacture of Methamphetamine.
Follow up searches were carried out and one person has been arrested.
Further investigation is in progress, according to a press release issued by the Commissioner of Customs, Chennai International Airport.
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Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh hosts lunch for J&K's Republic Day Tableau team
Union Minister of State  Science & Technology; Minister of State  Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh hosted a lunch for the Jammu & Kashmir Tableau team members who had performed in the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath in the national capital.
The team of artists, along with choreographers and musicians, have also been given appointment to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.
The members of the team expressed their overwhelming joy at the support and encouragement offered by Dr Jitendra Singh and also the hospitality given by him. They said, this was the first-of-its-kind experience they had gone through and they were absolutely excited about it.
Pertinent to mention that, unlike on several earlier occasions, this was a rare Republic Day function at Rajpath, New Delhi in which the Jammu & Kashmir Tableau was primarily dominated by culture and art of the Jammu region and the face of the Tableau displayed Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan along with other monumental projects like world’s highest Rail Bridge in Reasi and institutions like AIIMS, IIT and IIM, which have come up in the region during the recent years under the Modi Government. The background music and lyrics were also based on Jammu’s popular folk songs, “Sadha-e-Jammu”, “Sadhi Bakhri Pehchan”.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the last nearly eight years, a conscious effort has been made to provide equitable development and equitable attention to every region of Jammu & Kashmir. This has ignited confidence and self-esteem in every section of society and every region, he said.
Complimenting the members of the team for their distinguished performance, Dr Jitendra Singh said, he would like the people back home to understand the amount of effort, hard work and focussed preparation for several months, which had been put in for this performance. He also appreciated the perseverance and difficult competitive trial through which the team members had gone through for getting their Tableau included in the Republic Day programme at the national level.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, very few people are aware that entry of any State or UT Tableau in a Republic Day programme at national level has to go through different stages of competition and trial, and many States and UTs get excluded in the process and lose the opportunity to be included in the Republic Day programme. For this, he also complimented the hard work put in by the officials of the Department of Culture and consistent support rendered to them by the freelance groups engaged by them.
Dr Jitendra Singh had a detailed interaction with each of the members of the team individually and said they were the Cultural Ambassadors of the region. He assured each one of them every possible support for upgradation of their skill and performance.
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SNC/RR
(Visitor Counter : 766
Ministry of Railways
METRO RAILWAYS ORGANISED MOBILE VACCINATION CAMP AT NOAPARA
Kolkata, Date: 28.07.2021
Metro Railway organized a mobile vaccination camp today at Noapara First Aid Post to help the staff and beneficiaries residing in the Noapara Quarter Complex and adjoining areas to get inoculated. It has been organizing such mobile Covid Vaccination Camps regularly at different places in order to vaccinate all staff and beneficiaries.
Large number of staff and beneficiaries attended this camp to get their first and second doses of vaccine. 120 employees and beneficiaries were vaccinated in today’s mobile vaccination camp at Noapara. Apart from this, 142 staff, beneficiaries and outsiders were also inoculated at Tapan Sinha Memorial Hospital today. Total 262 persons were inoculated today.
Shri Manoj Joshi, General Manager, Metro Railway has expressed his satisfaction for organizing such camps for the benefit of Metro staff and their beneficiaries and advised all concerned officials to complete this inoculation drive at the earliest.
CG/CB
(Visitor Counter : 112
Ministry of Railways
BHADRAK-NERGUNDI 3RD LINE PROJECT
The 3rd line work between Haridaspur and Byree Railway Stations has been commissioned today.
The Commissioner of Railway Safety  had recently inspected the 3rd line work.
25.3 Kms have been completed and commissioned out of 92 KMs
The third-line work between Haridaspur and Byree Railway Stations  of the ongoing critical Bhadrak-Nergundi 3rd line project has been commissioned.
The Commissioner of Railway Safety , South Eastern Circle, Kolkata, recently inspected the Railway Section. During the inspection, all safety aspects were thoroughly examined, and a Speed Trial was also conducted to measure the feasibility of train traffic.
The construction work for the Bhadrak-Nergundi third-line project on the Howrah-Chennai Main line, between Bhadrak and Cuttack Railway Stations under Khurda Road Division of East Coast Railway, is proceeding at full swing. More than 60% of the construction works for this project have been completed.
This has been possible due to the consistent review of project works by the Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. Shri Vaishnaw is prioritizing the development of railway infrastructure in the region, along with various project works going on in Odisha, and is also monitoring the developmental works regularly. Bhadrak-Nergundi 3rd line work will boost the region's economy and provide hassle-free train operations on the Howrah-Chennai Main Line.
General Manager Shri Manoj Sharma advised officials to focus on the speedy completion of various projects going on in the jurisdiction of East Coast Railway. Shri Sharma also advised officials to coordinate with stakeholders, including State Government officials, for the early completion of the projects.
RoM
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President's Secretariat
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
The President of India is pleased to make the following appointments:-
 Sushri Anusuiya Uikey as Governor of Chhattisgarh
 Shri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan as Governor of Andhra Pradesh.
- The above appointments will take effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices.
President's Secretariat
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
The tenure of Shri Satya Pal Malik, Governor of Meghalaya is going to be completed on 03.10.2022.
The President of India has been pleased to appoint Brig.  B.D. Mishra , Governor of Arunachal Pradesh to discharge the functions of the Governor of Meghalaya, in addition to his own duties from the date he assumes charge of the office of the Governor of Meghalaya, until regular arrangements are made.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Shelter homes for transgender people.
Ministry has initiated 13 pilot shelter homes namely Garima Greh: Shelter Home for Transgender Persons and provided financial assistance to Community Based Organizations  for setting up of these shelter homes.
However, one organization  had returned the funds sanctioned expressing inability in setting up Garima Greh due to Covid pandemic and other reasons.
These 12 pilot shelter homes are functional in 9 States i.e Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu & Odisha.
Ministry has launched a scheme “SMILE - Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise” on 12.02.2022, under which, Garima Grehs will be set up @ at least one per State subject to eligibility criteria.
Ministry through the National Institute of Social Defence  regularly organize awareness programmes for sensitizing Police functionaries, Prison functionaries, ICDS functionaries, Media Professionals including Medical professionals. One such programme was organized on 18.08.2021 for medical professionals wherein about 100 medical professionals were sensitized.
Ministry has also organized regional consultations with the support of NITI Aayog and UNDP with all the states/UTs on issues related to welfare of Transgender Persons and to sensitize local administration about 'The Transgender Persons  Act, 2019, National Portal for Transgender Persons, including the SMILE Scheme.
One of the component of sub-scheme ‘Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’ of the SMILE scheme is Scholarships for Transgender Students under which financial assistance are provided to the Transgender students studying in IX and upto post graduation with the objective to enable them to complete their education, to reduce the incidence of drop-out and aid the transition from the elementary to the secondary stage.
The Ministry through the National Institute of Social Defence  has also organized several webinar programmes for Educational Institutes to create awareness about the Transgender Persons . The details are attached as Annexure-1.
Annexure1
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S.No
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|
Topic
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|
Target Group
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|
Date
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|
Participants
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|
-
|
|
Transgender Persons  Act 2019 and Rules 2020
|
|
PhD Scholar, Dept. of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS Bengaluru
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|
08.12.2021
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|
30
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|
-
|
|
Provisions of Transgender Persons  Act 2019 and Rules 2020
|
|
M. Phil Students, Dept. of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS Bengaluru
|
|
13.12.2021
|
|
74
|
|
-
|
|
Transgender Persons  Act 2019 and Rules 2020: Provisions
|
|
MSW  Central University of Tamil Nadu
|
|
15.12.2021
|
|
58
|
|
-
|
|
Transgender Persons  Act 2019 and Rules 2020: Provisions
|
|
MSW Students of Jayaprakash Institute of Social Change Kolkata
|
|
24.12.2021
|
|
89
|
|
-
|
|
Sensitization Program on Provisions of Transgender Persons Act, 2019 for nursing professionals
|
|
B. Sc  Students of NIMHANS Bengaluru
|
|
31.01.2022
|
|
78
This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri A. Narayanswamy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS AT PANAGARH MILITARY STATION
Kolkata, 27 July 2019
Lt Gen S S Mishra, General Officer Commanding, 17 Corps laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Panagarh Military Station, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of nation's victory in Kargil Operations.
Tributes were paid to the martyrs through a series of events including motivational talks, runs for fun at various educational institutions in Durgapur, Masimpur, Bankura, Burdwan, Nabagram, Berhampore and Purulia were organized to promote the spirit of national integration.
The events were designed to evoke a feeling of nationalism and patriotism, especially among the youth. The students were further made aware about career prospects in the Army.
CG
(Visitor Counter : 83
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Constitution Day celebrated in various Central Government offices in Kerala
Central Government offices in Kerala today joined the nation in renewing our commitment to the values and duties presented in our Constitution, by reading the Preamble to the Constitution.
Shri. V Palanichamy, Additonal Director General, Press Information Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram read out the Preamble to the officials and staff of PIB.